The construction of the Keroun 132/33 KV sub-station in Kanepokhari Rural Municipality-2, Morang, remains incomplete three years after its commencement, causing significant delays in electricity supply from Keroun to north Morang.

The federal government had allocated five bighas of land for the project and awarded the contract to Energetic Engineering - SR Associates Infrastructure JV on August 11 2021.

According to the agreement, the project was to be completed by November 11, 2023.

However, nine months past the deadline, the construction work remains incomplete, prompting the authorities to extend the completion deadline to November 10, 2024.

Darshan Yadav, project head, reported that the construction was being financed by Rs. 850 million loans from the Asian Development Bank.

Approximately, 60 per cent of the work has been completed so far, he added.

Despite previous instructions from the Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Kul Man Ghising, for timely completion, progress has been slow.

“We are planning to complete the project work by February 2025 and start transmitting electricity from the station,” Yadav said.

He added that while the delay had not caused power interruptions, the power distribution centre is currently providing power at 170 voltage instead of the required 220 voltage.

The completion of the sub-station is expected to alleviate a 30-year-old problem for customers currently served by the Rangeli distribution centre.

The sub-station’s operation is expected to reduce the electricity load of the Rangeli centre, which currently distributes electricity to Sunbarsi, Dhanpalthan, Kanepokhri, Ratuwamai, Jahada, and Ramailo areas.

Yadav said that once the sub-station is operational, the load on Rangeli will be reduced and quality services provided.

Umesh Kumar Jha, head of the Koshi regional office of the Nepal Electricity Authority, attributed the delay to changes of design due to soil problems.

“This is a technical matter. When a technical problem arises, it should be solved technically,” Jha added.